Embry-Riddle souped up on engineering innovation

Saturday

Apr 27, 2013 at 12:01 AMApr 27, 2013 at 11:02 AM

DEBORAH CIRCELLIEDUCATION WRITER

DAYTONA BEACH — When Matthew Nowacki is watching a Formula 1 race, he's not just watching how fast the driver is going like many fans. The 22-year-old Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University student from New Jersey is also analyzing the car and its design and checking out the suspension. He's one of about 20 Embry-Riddle students who are part of the university's Formula Hybrid team. The team designs, constructs and races a single-seat, open-wheel racing car similar to those on the Formula 1 circuit — except these cars operate on gas and electricity using lithium ion batteries to store energy. The car, which is modified each year, will compete in the annual Formula Hybrid International Competition at New Hampshire Motor Speedway from Monday through Thursday. Twenty teams are competing this year, including two from Canada and one from India. Founded in 2006, the competition carries endorsements from the Society of Automotive Engineers and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers. Nowacki, who is working toward his master's in mechanical engineering and was captain of the team last year, became a fan of Grand-Am and Formula 1 racing three years ago because of the hybrid team at school. "It adds a different perspective," he said. "I like to see how the engineering reflects the performance of the vehicle." Embry-Riddle has enjoyed success, being the U.S. champions in 2007 and 2008 (Canada won the overall international title) and picking up the best design award both years. Students and professors are hopeful for another win this year because the car is much lighter, which should allow it to go faster and be more efficient. The car, dubbed Triton, is made with lightweight composite materials, including carbon fibers and aerospace-grade aluminum as opposed to a heavier steel chassis or frame that other teams use. This year's adjustments dropped the car's weight to 495 pounds, 25 less than last year. Faculty adviser Darris White expects their car to be the only one to weigh less than 500 pounds. Students also redesigned the battery pack using fewer batteries and moved it from the side of the car to under the driver's seat to improve handling and reduce weight by cutting out mounting hardware. The radiator was also moved behind the seat from the side of the car. "It has to be able to perform on the track and look good and be environmentally friendly and economical to produce," said White, a mechanical engineering professor. Six students trade off racing the car in various competitions over several days. While the car, which is made with a motorcycle engine, only goes up to 62 mph, it can accelerate to 50 mph in electric mode in less than 8 seconds, team members said. One race involves looking at which team gets to the end of a straight stretch of the track the quickest. For an endurance race of 13.7 miles, the car has to race on half a gallon of fuel plus the electric system without running out of fuel. There is one driver change during the race. "I was a little nervous," said Mary Huval, 24, a mechanical engineering junior from Louisiana who raced the car last year. "It was kind of an adrenaline rush. I was more worried about messing up." Judges also look at other factors including the car's safety and design; how it conserves fuel and reduces emissions; and what type of innovations it features. Just like a racing team, students get funding from sponsors, including from board of trustees member David Robertson, owner of Robertson Racing, who races in the American Le Mans Series. The cost annually is about $20,000 to build and add new components to the car and about $10,000 for travel and to transport the car to the competition. "The most important thing is to go through a design process and build something that is real so when they go into the industry they are ready to be productive," White said. This year's team captain, Adam Szechy, 20, a mechanical engineering junior from Ohio, hopes to be one of the drivers in the competition. He's been practicing on Embry-Riddle property near the ICI Center. "It's exhilarating," said Szechy, who has been working on World War II military vehicles with his dad since he was 7. "It's definitely a different experience (compared with) a normal passenger car."